Nathaniel Ru is the Co-founder and Chief Brand Officer of sweetgreen, leading the brand and their award-winning creative team. He oversees a team of thinkers and marketers who use creativity and storytelling to help redefine what the fast-food industry will look like in the years to come.

He has been named as one of the Most Creative People in Business by Fast Company and one of Forbes’ Next 50 CMO’s. His team has collaborated with some of the world’s best chefs, athletes and musicians to amplify their mission. In both 2019 and 2020 sweetgreen was named as one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of the Year. His passion for storytelling has led him to work at the unique intersection of food, lifestyle and social impact.

Nathaniel and his co-founders started sweetgreen in 2007, opening their first location in Georgetown, DC, just three months out of college. Their vision is to be as ubiquitous as traditional fast-food, but far more transparent and honest. Since inception, sweetgreen has served over 100 million healthy meals

Nathaniel graduated from Georgetown University and lives in Los Angeles.